Combined stretcher or litter and bed



Wim-ch w, E. scHMnD COMBINED STRETGHER'OR LITTER AND BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1943 n 4 Shgetsfsheet 2 INVENTOR.

m M H c s E.

COMBINED STRETCHER OR LITTER AND' BED F11ed Aprll 2 1943 March 19, l946. l E'. swf-:Msn COMBINED STRETGHER 0R LI'TTER AND BED Filed April' 2, 1911s Y 4 sneesfsheeta Patented Mar. 19, 1946 borsten CGMBINED STRETCHER OR LITTER AND BED Emil Schmid, Washington, D. C.

Application April 2, 1943, Serial No. 481,611 14 claims( (c1. 5-s2 My invention relates to a combined stretcher or litter and bed.

An important object of the invention is to providean apparatus of the above mentioned char.

acter which is collapsible so that its parts are arranged in a compact manner, and is readily manually portable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character which may be quickly and conveniently opened and closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character which is strong and rigid when used as a stretcher or litter, or as a bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide strong and rigid stirrups for supporting the body portion of the apparatus, when used as a stretcher or litter, and also serving to rigidly retain the combined handle and legs in leg position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow which may be quickly mounted upon or separated from the body portion of the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of the apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same used as a stretcher, and partly folded,

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the same opened,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a similar view of the apparatus, used as a bed,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus completely folded,

Figure 7 is a plan View of the same,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3,

Figure 9 is a similar view taken on line 9 9 of Figure 3,

Figure 10 is a similar view taken on line ill-lil of Figure 3, parts broken away,

Figure 10e is a transverse section taken on line lea-I 0a of Figure 2,

Figure 11 is a plan view of a unit including the folded parts of the apparatus,

Figure l2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 13 is an inner side elevation of the brace strip and combined handles andlegs, associated elements in section,

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on line lil-I4 of Figure 13, and

Figure 15 is an o-uter side elevation of the brace strip, parts broken away.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 2i] designates side rails or bars, which are foldable. Each side rail 2B includes rail sections 2l, connected at their inner ends by leaf-hinges 22, rigidly secured thereto and disposed upon the tops of the same, when the rail sections are in the opened position.` These leaf-hinges form with the rail sections 2l,

knee joints, which permit one rail section to be swung longitudinally over the other rail section. rlhe apparatus further comprises a iiexible bottom 23, formed of canvas or the like, which is passed over the outer longitudinal edge of the rail sections 2l and is secured thereto as shown at 2li, Figure 8. The intermediate portion of the flexible bottom 23 is preferably cut away, at 25, Figure 5, to provide a clearance for the hinges 22.

Arranged beneath the rail sections 2l are lo-ckplates 25. Each lock-plate 26 is pivoted to one rail section 2| by a bolt 21, carrying a winged nut 28. At the opposite end, the lock-plate 26 has a transverse slot 29 to receive a bolt B, rigidly secured to the companion rail section 2l and carrylng a winged nut 3l. The lock-plate 26 carries a stiffening rib or flange 32, arranged at a right angle thereto. As clearly sho-wn in Figures 2, 3

and 4, the lock-plates 26 when clamped to the bolts 2l and 3&3 by the winged nuts, are dispo-sed beneath the rail sections 2l and extend across their meeting ends, and rigidly connect them, so that the hinges 22 cannot yield downwardly.

A pair of transverse stretcher bars 33 is provided for each transverse pair of rail sections 2l. The stretcher bars 33 have their outer ends pivotally connected at 34 with cleats 35, rigidly secured to the lower faces of the rail sections 2l. These cleats have ears or stops 36, disposed in =k the path of travel of the stretcher bars 33 when the apparatus is folded, Figure l. The inner ends of the stretcher bars 33 in each pair extend into a coupling 37, which is rigid and U-shaped in cross section. The ends of the stretcher bars 33 are pivotally connected with the coupling 3l as shown at 38. As more clearly shown in Figure 2, when the stretcher bars 33 are moved to the opened position the vrail sections 2| will be shifted to the open position whereby the fabric bottom 23 is held suitably taut, in the opened position.

The coupling 31 has its closed side 38 arranged next to the inner end of the rail sections 2|, and when the stretcher bars are shifted to the opened position they may be shifted past dead center and the pull upon the canvas bottom 23 will hold the stretcher bars 33 in the opened position. The stretcher bars 33 now contact with the inner closed side 38 of the coupling 3l'.

Secured to each rail section 2| is a rigid stirrup 39, which is generally U-,shaped This stirrup, which is preferably formed of a strap of strong and stiff metal, is arranged near the outer end of the rail section 2| and projects down below the rail section 2|. Each stirrup includes a vertical arm 49, rigidly secured to the rail section 2| by a rivet 4| or the like. The stirrup also includes a Y diagonal arm 42 preferably arrangedv at substantially 45 with relation to thevertical arm M which is at a right angle to the rail section 2|. The upper end of the arm 42 is rigidly secured to the rail section by a rivet 43. l At its bottom,`

the stirrup 39 has its material bent or twisted to provide a fiat horizontal foot M. This foot has a substantial 'length so that it may readily slide upon a table or the like, and will also properly support the stretcher or litter when the stirrups are placed upon the ground. The diagonal arm 42 rigidly'connected with the lower end of the vertical arm ylll), renders the stirrup stiif and strong and alfords a powerful brace for the arm 40 in a direction longitudinally of the rail section 2|.

Each rail section 2| is provided with a com-- bined handle and leg 45, the outer or free end of which is preferably turned to provide a hand `the brace strip may be brought into position and y the headed elements 62 passed through the large ends of the key hole openings 6|, and then the gripping portion 46. The inner end of the combined handle and leg is disposed between the vertical arm 49 and a companion strap 4l, which is rigidly held to the inner face of the rail section 2| by the rivet 4|. The inner end-of the combined handle and leg is preferably rounded and is pivotally connected with the arm 40 and the strap 41 by a pivot element or rivet 48, passing through these parts, Figure 3. Rigidly secured to each rail section 2|, adjacent to its free end is an U-shaped keeper 49, mounted uponv the lower face of the rail section 2| and attached thereto by screws 59 or `the like.. This U-shaped keeper is adapted to receive the combined handle and leg 45 when it is .shifted to the outer horizontal position. The combined handle and leg has a sliding fit within the U-shaped keeper 49 and when held within the keeper, it cannot move with relation thereto. One side of the U-shaped keeper 49 has an opening 5| for receiving a pin 52 which is also adapted to be inserted within an opening 53 formed in the combined handleand leg 45. The pin 5| is preferably secured to a flexible element or chain 54, carried by an eye 55, attached to the combined handle and leg 45 and hence permanently attached to the combined handle and leg. When the combined handle and leg 45 is shifted to the vertical position at a right angle to the rail section 2|, the pin 52 is removed from within the'opening 53 and ls inserted into an opening 56, formed inthe lower end of the vertical arm 49 and an opening 5l formed in the combined handle and lleg 45. This pin then serves to lock the combined handle and leg to the vertical arm of the stirrup.

Transverse rigid brace strips or boards 58 are provided which may be formed of wood or the like. The brace strip is' disposed upon the inner side of each pair of combined handles and legs when they are in the open legposition. Y The strip 59 is shifted downwardly with relation to the combined handles and legs 45 whereby the headed elements enter the upper contracted ends of the key hole openings. The brace strip 53 is therefore rigidly attached to each combined handle and leg at spaced points and the strip 58 therefore serves to rigidly connect the combined handles and legs 45 in each trans verse pair, whereby the same are positively held against lateral movement with relation to the rail sections 2|. It is thus seen that when these combined handles and legs are used as legs for a bed, they are braced against lateral movement by the strips 58 and are also braced against movement longitudinally of the bed by their connections with the stirrups. A powerful bracing action is therefore provided. One strip 58 is provided with a handle 63, as shown.

The numeral 64 designates a pillow which is removably attached to the side rails of the apparatus when the apparatus is used asa bed. The pillow is preferably of the construction disclosed in an application to be filed by me. Any suitable form of pillow I nay be used, or the apparatus may be used without a pillow.

When the apparatus is used as a stretcher or litter, each side rail 29 has its rail sections 2| arranged in the opened position and rigidly connected by the plate 25. The pairs of stretcher bars 33 are then swung to the opened position, Figure 2, and pass dead center, and will be locked in theopened position to retain the side rails 29 spaced and the fabric bottom 23 suitably taut. The combined handles and legs=l5 will now be in the Vouter horizontal handle position and locked in such position by inserting the pins 52 intov the openings 5| of the keepers i9 and the openings 53 of the combined handles and legs. The combined handles and legs are considerably longer than the stirrups 39. The combined handles and legs may be five times as long as the stirrup. The combined handles and legs are made long so that they will extend beyond the outer ends of the rails 29 for a considerable distance to be grasped by the hands when the apparatus is used as a stretcher. When the combined handles and legs are swung to the vertical or leg position, at a right angle to the rail 29, they will have a suitable length and will project below the stirrups 39 for a considerable distance and support the fabric bottom 23 at an elevation corresponding generally to a bed elevation. Satisfactory results are obtained by having the stirrups four inches long and the combined handlesand legs twenty-one inches long. while these dimensions may'be varied, and the invention is not .restricted to them. By combining the relatively short stirrups and the long combined handles andlegs, a decided advantage the apparatus is used as a stretcher or litter with the combined handles and legs 45 in the outer horizontal handle position, the stirrups 39 extend downwardly below the combined handles and legs, for a short distance, and will serve to support the stretcher upon a table, such as an operating table. The stretcher or litter may be moved upon or over the table, by the manipulation of the combined handles and legs, and the stirrups may slide over the surface of the table. Thus a patient may be shifted to various positions during an operation without being removed from the stretcher or litter. When the stretcher or litter is placed upon the ground, the stirrups 39 will retain it slightly elevated to avoid water or the like. Attention is called to the` fact that when the apparatus is being used as a litter, the combined handles and legs 45 are arranged horizontally beneath the rail sections 2l, and will therefore support the rail sections, even if the pins -52 are not in position to lock the same to the keepers 9. The liability of accidents is therefore reduced.

When the apparatus is usedas a bed, the combined handles and legs 45 are moved to and locked in the vertical leg position, to hold the fabric bottom 23 at the usual bed elevation, thus rendering,t it convenient for a nurse or the like to wait upon the patient. Particular attention is called to the fact that the combined handles and legs t5 are pivotally mounted upon the vertical arms 4i! of the stirrups 39 and when the combined handles and legs are in the lowered or vertical leg position they are locked to these vertical arms, by the pins 53 being inserted into the openings 55 and 51. The combined handle and leg is therefore rigidly connected to the vertical arm of the stirrup at two spaced points and the vertical arm of the stirrup is strongly braced against movement longitudinally o-f the rail section 2l by the diagonal arm 42 of the stirrup. The combined handles and legs, in each transverse pair are rigidly connected by the brace strip 53.

When the apparatus is to be collapsed, the brace strip-s 58 are first removed from the combined handles and legs. The rails with the rail sections 2l still rigidly connected by the plates are now shifted inwardly toward each other, by swinging the pairs of stretcher bars 33 inwardly, Figure 1. The rails 28 may now be generally horizontal and the fabric bottom 23 is retained upon the tops of the rail sections 2l so that it does not pass between the rails 2li. The rails 26 continue to be moved inwardly until they assume the innermost position which occurs when the keepers lig engage each other. When the rails 20 are in the innermost position, the stretcher bars 33 in each pair are substantially parallel. The stops 36 of the cleats 35 retain the closed pairs of stretcher bars in the proper position. The fabric bottom 23 is now folded or rolled longitudinally, and is resting upon the top of the horizontal rails. Particular attention is called to the fact that the fabric bottom 23 is upon the top of the horizontal rails 25 while the combined handles and legs 135 are upon the bottom of the same. This is important for when the rail sections are folded over each other, the fabric bottom is between the rail sections, while the combined handles and legs are then positioned upon the outer sides ofthe rail sections. The rail sections when folded therefore cover and protect the bottom fabric, and the folded bottom fabric is compressible so that the folded rail sections may be brought into close relation, while the combined handles and legs are out of the Way. To foldthe rail sections 2l, the lockplates 26 are now separated from the bolts 30 and are swung to the inactive position with their free ends extending toward the outer ends of the rail sections 2 I. By tightening up the winged nuts 28, these lock-plates are clamped in the inactive position. The outer portions of the lockplates 26 now pass beneath the adjacent pair of stretcher bars 33, while the webs 32 are arranged upon `the outer edges of these stretcher bars. One transverse pair of rail sections are now folded over the other transverse pair of rail sections, upon the hinges 22. The combined handles and legs are now swung to the inner horizontal folded position with their free ends extending toward the inner ends of the rail sections 2l, Figure 6. One pair of the combined handles and legs fold inwardly between the webs 32. The pins 52 may be inserted within either openings 53 or 5l. The transverse brace strips or boards 58 may'now be arranged in superposed relation upon the pillow 54, previously collapsed and disposed upon the-top of the collapsed apparatus, if a pillow is used, Figure 12, with the handle 63 uppermost. Straps Ed are 'passed about the collapsed apparatus and the brace strips and holds the unit together so that it may be readily manually transported by manipulation of the handle 63.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, each side rail including rail sections, a hinge connecting the inner ends of the rail sections to form a knee joint which breaks downwardly when the rail sections are in the opened generally horizontal position, means to prevent the downward breaking of the knee joint, a bottom connected with the rails, a transverse p Lr of combined handles and legs arranged beneath each transverse pair of rail sections when such rail sections are in the opened generally horizontal position and pivotally connected with such rail sections to swing substantially vertically with relation to the rail sections, the combined handles and legs when shifted to the outer generally hori- Zontalhandle position extending outwardly beyond the rail sections and engaging the rail sections to limit their upward movement with relation to the rail sections, the combine-:i handles and legs being adapted to be shifted to generally Vertical leg positions, and means to lock the combined handles and legs in the leg position.

2. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails,.each side ra'il including rail sections, a hinge connecting the inner ends of the rails to form a knee joint which breaks downwardly when the rail sections are in the opened generally horizontal position, means to prevent the downward breaking of the ,knee joint, a flexible bottom connected with the side rails, means for holding the side rails laterally spaced and being collapsible so that the side rails may be moved toward each other, a combined handle and leg arranged beneath each rail section when the rail section is in the opened horizontal position and pivotally connected 'therewithto "swingsubstan'ft i tially vertically with relation thereto, the com-Vl bined handle and leg when shiftedto the outer generally horizontal .handlezlpositlon extending outwardly beyond the rail sections. and engaging the rail sections toulimitrtheirupward;movemen.t

with relation to the rail sections, the combined handle and leg being adapted to Vbefshifted to 'an upstanding leg position, and `means to hold the combined handle and leg in the leg position.

3. In a combined stretcher rflitter and bed, side rails, each side rail including rail sections, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the rail sections to form a knee joint which breaks downwardly when the railfsections 'are in the opened generally horizontal position, means to4 combined handle and leg being VadaptedY to be shifted to a generally vertical leg position, and means to hold the combined'handle and leg in the leg position.

4. In a combined stretcher orllitter and bed, side rails, each side rail including rail sections, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of the rail sections to form a knee joint which breaks downwardly when the rail sections are in the opened generally horizontal position, means to prevent the downward breaking of the knee joint, a iiexible bottom connected with therails, pivotally connected stretcher bars pivotally connected with the rail sections, a combined handle and leg arranged beneath each rail section when the rail section is in the opened horizontal position, means for pivotally connecting the inner end of the combined handle and leg withV the'rail section near and spacedfrom its outer end to swing substantially vertically, the combined handle and leg when shifted to the outer generally' horizontal position extending outwardly beyond the rail section and engaging the railsecti'on to limit its upward movement with relation thereto, means arranged adjacent to the outer end of the rail section to hold the combinedhandle and leg in the outer generally horizontal position, the com-Y bined handle and leg being adapted to be shifted to an upstanding leg position, and means to hold the combined handle and leg in the leg position.'

5. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails and extending downwardly beyond the same 6. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side-rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails and extending downwardly beyond the same when the side rails are in a generally horizontal position, combined handles and legs pivotally connected with the side rails, said combined handles and legs being longer than the stirrups, the combined handles and legs being adapted to be shifted to a generally horizontal handle position and having their outer ends extending outwardly beyond the side rails, the stirrups extending downwardly beyond the combined handles and legs when the combined handles and vlegs are in the generally horizontal handle position, the combined handles and legs being adapted to be shifted downwardly to an upstanding leg position and extending downwardly below when the side rails are in the generally horizontal the stirrups, and means to hold the combined handles and legs in the leg position.

'7. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails near their outer ends and extending downwardly below the side rails when the side rails are generally horizontal, and combined handles and legs pivotally connected with the side rails near the stirrups'to swing substantially vertically when the side rails are generally horizontal, the combined handles and legs being longer than the stirrups. A

8. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails, said stirrups being spaced fromvthe ends of the side rails and extending downwardly below the side rails when the side rails are horizontally arranged, and combined handles and legs disposed beneath the side rails and pivotally connected with the stirrups and being longer than the' stirrups said combined handles and legs being adapted to be swung to generally horizontal positions upon the outer sides of the stirrups and to extend outwardly beyond the side rails and to engage with the side rails to limit their upward movement with relation to the side rails.

9. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails, each stirrup including a generally vertical arm and a diagonal arm, a combined handle and'leg pivotaliy mounted upon the generally vertical arm of each stirrup and being longer than the stirrup, and means to lock the combined handle and leg to the generally vertical arm.

l0. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails includingr a bottom, generally U-shaped stirrups extending longitudinally of the side rails and secured thereto near the outer ends of the rails and extending downwardly beyond the side rails when the side rails are horizontally arranged, combined handles and legs pivotally mounted upon the stirrups and being longer than the stirrups, the combined handles and legs extending outwardly beyondv the ends of the side rails when they are shifted to an outer generally horizontal position and extending downwardly beyond the stirrups when they are shifted to an upstanding leg position, and means to attach the combined handles and legs to the stirrups so that they cannot turnupon their pivots.

1l.V In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups rigidly mounted upon the side rails and extending downwardly beyond the side rails when the side rails are horizontally arranged and longitudinally braced with relation to the side rails, combined handles and legs longer than the stirrups and pivotally mounted upon the stirrups, means to lock the combined handles and legs to the stirrups against turning movement upon their pivots, and transverse brace strips detachably connected with the transverse pairs of combined handles Iand legs.

12. In a combined stretcher or litter and bed, side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups extending longitudinally of the side rails and rigidly secured thereto, each stirrup including a generally vertical arm and a diagonal arm and a foot connecting the arms, a combined handle and leg longer than the stirrup and arranged adjacent to each stirrup, means pivotally connecting the combined handle and leg with the generally Vertical arm of the stirrup, and separate means for connecting the combined handle and leg with the said generally vertical arm at a point spaced from the pivotal connection.

13. A combined stretcher or litter and bed, comprising side rails, means connecting the side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails and extending downwardly beyond the same when the side rails are in the generally horizontal position, combined handles and legs pivotally connected with the stirrups and adapted to be shifted to an outer generally horizontal handle position and then extending outwardly beyond the ends of the side rails, the stirrups extending downwardly beyond the combined handles and legs when the combined handles and legs are in the outer generally horizontal handle position, the combined handles and legs being shiftable to upstanding leg positions andY then extending downwardly beyond the stirrups and means releasably engageable with said combined handles and legs and with portions in rigid relation to said rails for securing the combined handles and legs in said upstanding leg positions.

14. A combined stretcher or litter and bed, comprising side rails, means connectingthe side rails including a bottom, stirrups connected with the side rails and extending downwardly beyond the same when the side rails are in the generally horizontal position, combined handles and legs pivotally connected with the -side rails and adapted to be shifted to an outer generally horizontal position and then extending outwardly beyond the ends of the side rails, the stirrups extending downwardly beyond the combined handles and legs when the combined handles and legs are in the outer, generally horizontal handle position, the combined handles and legs being shiftable to an upstanding leg position and being longer than the stirrups and then extending downwardly beyond the stirrups, and means engaging the stirrups and serving to hold the combined handles and legs in the upstanding leg position.

EMIL SCHMID. 

